News in brief

Daniel Sellers, 19, and Luke Anderson, 18, were given life sentences yesterday for killing a man by shooting him with an air rifle at close range and then bludgeoning him with a cricket bat. The pair murdered Stephen Callaghan, 37, last Boxing Day, in Cottingham, near Hull. The prosecution said the teenagers tortured Mr Callaghan to get his bank card pin number, though no money was withdrawn. Mr Justice Irwin said at Hull crown court that Sellers, who was told he must serve at least 19 years, had instigated the murder and he had persuaded Anderson, due to serve 15 years, to take part.David Pallister

Peerage for climate change economist

Sir Nicholas Stern, who led the government's review of the economic impact of climate change, is to be made a life peer. The London School of Economics professor, who argued in the Stern Report that money spent now to reduce carbon emissions would bring dividends on a huge scale, will attend the Lords as a non-party-political crossbencher. Haleh Afshar, a government adviser on Muslim issues and Islamic law, will also become a crossbench peer. She teaches politics and women's studies at York University and is the founder and chair of the Muslim Women's Network.Press Association

Website told to identify users who 'vilified club'

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club yesterday won a high court order aimed at identifying the authors of allegedly libellous messages on a fan website. The club, its chairman, chief executive and five other directors had brought proceedings against Neil Hargreaves, who owns and operates owlstalk.co.uk. They claimed that Mr Hargreaves had permitted some users to pursue a "sustained campaign of vilification" against them, and sought to identify 11 individuals behind 14 postings which appeared in July and August this year. Mr Hargreaves neither opposed nor consented to the order.Press Association

Men jailed for 'abhorrent' dog-fight in showroom

Six men yesterday received prison sentences for their involvement in the largest organised dog-fight uncovered in England since 1867. The defendants, aged between 26 and 43, were sentenced to between four and six months for charges relating to the event, which took place at a kitchen showroom in Birmingham. Barkat Hussain, Intikab Hussain, Sohail Hussain, Zahir Ahmed, Ummar Ahmed and Zahoor Hussain were told by Birmingham magistrates they had been involved in an "abhorrent activity". A seventh man, Waqqas Mughal, 18, received a four-month detention and training order.Press Association

Ofcom clears way for use of mobiles on planes

Mobile phone calls and texts could finally be permitted on planes, according to proposals by Ofcom yesterday. The telecoms regulator ruled that individual airlines should be allowed to decide whether their passengers can use mobiles in-flight. The proposals were developed jointly with other EU countries, and cover all European airspace. The phones would operate via an on-board "base station" which connects to passengers' handsets. The system would be switched off during takeoff and landing to prevent interference with other terrestrial mobile networks. Calls could be allowed in-flight as early as next year.Press Association

Brothers in funeral brawl get suspended jail terms

Two brothers were yesterday given six-month jail sentences, suspended for two years, after a brawl at the funeral of their grandfather. Ruben and Royston Barney-Smith were among up to 400 mourners at the cemetery in Bishop's Waltham, Hants, for the burial of Amaline Barney, 79, on March 28 this year when 20 men started a fight, Portsmouth crown court was told. The brothers joined in the violence, which was targeted at the deceased's son and grandson, and followed a long-running family feud. Ruben, 27, and Royston, 23, were also ordered to do 200 hours of community service.Press Association

Sunlight through crystal ball set curtains alight

A woman in her 60s returned home to find it full of smoke after sunlight refracted through a crystal ball on a windowsill set curtains in her lounge alight. Dorset firefighters extinguished the fire in Poole. Watch manager Dave Cooper, of Dorset fire and rescue service, said: "It was a most unusual incident. The conditions were just right with a low, strong October sun. Luckily, the occupant was out and had closed the lounge door. The lady was understandably quite shocked and called us straight away and then stayed out of the house - which again is the right thing to do." Press Association